Former ICC football star stands amongst AFL elite

Former Itawamba Community College football star Odie Armstrong continues to make waves in the pass-happy Arena Football League and now has reached a new milestone in his illustrious career to stand amongst the league’s all-time greats.

Armstrong moved into the No. 10 spot amongst career leading rushers in the AFL with his 1,023 career rushing yards when the defending AFL Champion Arizona Rattler’s defeated his former team the Orlando Predators 82-42 this past Sunday night.

The former ICC two-way football star tied the Rattlers’ single-game rushing touchdown record, which he set in 2011, with four trips to the end zone and moved to 16th on the list of career rushing touchdown (57) in the victory.

His 3.6 yards per carry is currently 24th amongst career leaders and is 13th in career carries with 283 touches.

The Vardaman native has rushed for 63 yards and nine touchdowns on 27 carries and has four catches for 90 yards and a score. He has 579 yards receiving and 13 touchdowns on 53 catches throughout his five-year career.

Before leading the Rattlers to an Arena Bowl XXV championship, Armstrong started all 18 regular-season games in another record-setting season as his 295 yards on 77 carries set the Rattlers’ single-season rushing record during the 2011 season. He finished the season with 17 touchdowns and averaged 16.4 yards per game.

The future hall of famer led the AFL in rushing as a Tulsa Talon in 2010, totaling 349 yards on 77 touches. In 2008, he was named to the AFL All-Rookie team as an Orlando Predator. He was named to the Second Team All-Arena Team in 2012 and 2010.

Armstrong and the Rattlers (5-1) will be back in action Saturday, May 4 on the road against the Jacksonville Sharks in a rematch of Arena Bowl XXIV. You can watch Armstrong on CBS Sports Network Saturday, June 22 against the San Jose SaberCats and Saturday, July 6 against the Orlando Predators.